Every time I go to the gym, I always start with a ten minute run on the treadmill to get my heart beat up and to shake off the cold winter weather that manages to seep into my bones on the five minute walk from my office to the gym. Once I get on the treadmill, I strap on my iPod, navigate to my Work Out playlist, and start my run. Usually I have the volume turned up to the point that it drowns out the sound of my fellow treadmill runners' feet as it bounces on the vinyl belt.
My workout music is 1/3 European Dance Pop, 1/3 Pop Rock, and 1/3 R&B and Hip-Hop, basically anything that has a beat and is uptempo is what's on my playlist. The good thing about the music is it helps me zone out and instead of focusing on the time slooowly ticking away on the treadmill timer, I end up mouthing the words, bopping my head, and look like a fool.
Tonight was an exception to that rule. I picked up my iPod as usual, turned on the music, and right in the middle of Dannii Minogue's "I Begin to Wonder", I farted. I don't think it was bad enough to clear the room, but it certainly was bad enough to make the woman next to me get off her treadmill while it was still going, walk three treadmills down the row, and resume her running.
So, my only lesson for the day is if you're going to work out, don't eat broccoli with you lunchtime meal!
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Restaurant Review: Henrietta's Table
As a general rule of thumb, whenever my partner and I decide to go out for dinner, we usually have a very different set of criteria on determining where to eat. Typically, it goes like this:
Me: I saw this great new gastropub that opened in Brookline, we should go!
Spouse: How about Ethiopian? I really loved that raw beef/cheese/jalepeno dish we got last time.
Me: *SIGH*
Luckily for me, because I and some good friends are all city worker bees, we usually get together every so often and that's when I can indulge in my zest of refined yet casual fare. No place epitomizes that idea better than Henrietta's Table, located in Harvard Square in the Charles Hotel.
Last week, I and two of my worker friends ate there on Thursday night and the first comment I heard from one of my friends was, "Wow, it's like we're going to eat inside a Williams Sonoma." Given the farm house inspired decor complete with modern yet rustic tables, green tablecloths, and the khaki wearing serving staff, I can see how she would say that.
As a frequent diner of Henrietta's, I can say for sure that the food isn't exciting nor incredibly innovative and modern. What they are good at is cooking classic New England food at decent prices (definitely recommend the weekday 2 course or 3 course prix fixe menu option).
During dinner, two of us opted for the 3 course meal while one of use chose the 2 course in order to share two desserts. We started off with an order of Maine Crab Cake accompanied by a chunky house made tartar sauce that could have used a little bit more salt but still tasted fresh, Smoked Pastrami Salmon served with a chive oil, crispy waffle potato chips, and a simple salad, and a Iceburg Wedge with Blue Cheese dressing, which had way more dressing than salad but still was fairly tasty despite its heaviness.
Our main courses were definitely better. I chose the Duck entree that consisted of a roasted Duck Breast with a thin layer of skin and fat still on and a Duck Confit. The meat was delicious and cooked perfectly but the cranberry sauce was too large in quantity and the tartness overwhelmed the game-like flavor of the meat. My friend's Roast Chicken was also delicious as the meat was juicy and flavorful though the skin wasn't as crispy as I would've liked.
Perhaps the best entree was the simple Yankee Pot Roast served with a classic brown gravy atop of a small mountain of mashed potatoes. To me, this dish typifies what Henrietta's is about. The beef was meltingly tender, the gravy added a nice richness and the mashed potatoes was buttery and soaked up all the delicious juices from the meat.
Dessert consisted of an Apple Turnover with Caramel Ice Cream while my friend and I split a scoop of Lemon Sorbet and Mascarpone Ice Cream. The Turnover was textbook good while the ice cream was surprisingly not overtly sweet. While my friend and I enjoyed the Mascarpone flavor, the Lemon Sorbet was way too tart to fully enjoy the sweetness of the other flavor. That was our bad though and certainly of no fault of the restaurant.
When we were eating dinner, I couldn't help but notice that the majority of table seemed to consist of families convening for a meal. Sometimes, a well cooked meal is all it takes to bring people together and Henrietta's is a great example of that.
Me: I saw this great new gastropub that opened in Brookline, we should go!
Spouse: How about Ethiopian? I really loved that raw beef/cheese/jalepeno dish we got last time.
Me: *SIGH*
Luckily for me, because I and some good friends are all city worker bees, we usually get together every so often and that's when I can indulge in my zest of refined yet casual fare. No place epitomizes that idea better than Henrietta's Table, located in Harvard Square in the Charles Hotel.
Last week, I and two of my worker friends ate there on Thursday night and the first comment I heard from one of my friends was, "Wow, it's like we're going to eat inside a Williams Sonoma." Given the farm house inspired decor complete with modern yet rustic tables, green tablecloths, and the khaki wearing serving staff, I can see how she would say that.
As a frequent diner of Henrietta's, I can say for sure that the food isn't exciting nor incredibly innovative and modern. What they are good at is cooking classic New England food at decent prices (definitely recommend the weekday 2 course or 3 course prix fixe menu option).
During dinner, two of us opted for the 3 course meal while one of use chose the 2 course in order to share two desserts. We started off with an order of Maine Crab Cake accompanied by a chunky house made tartar sauce that could have used a little bit more salt but still tasted fresh, Smoked Pastrami Salmon served with a chive oil, crispy waffle potato chips, and a simple salad, and a Iceburg Wedge with Blue Cheese dressing, which had way more dressing than salad but still was fairly tasty despite its heaviness.
Our main courses were definitely better. I chose the Duck entree that consisted of a roasted Duck Breast with a thin layer of skin and fat still on and a Duck Confit. The meat was delicious and cooked perfectly but the cranberry sauce was too large in quantity and the tartness overwhelmed the game-like flavor of the meat. My friend's Roast Chicken was also delicious as the meat was juicy and flavorful though the skin wasn't as crispy as I would've liked.
Perhaps the best entree was the simple Yankee Pot Roast served with a classic brown gravy atop of a small mountain of mashed potatoes. To me, this dish typifies what Henrietta's is about. The beef was meltingly tender, the gravy added a nice richness and the mashed potatoes was buttery and soaked up all the delicious juices from the meat.
Dessert consisted of an Apple Turnover with Caramel Ice Cream while my friend and I split a scoop of Lemon Sorbet and Mascarpone Ice Cream. The Turnover was textbook good while the ice cream was surprisingly not overtly sweet. While my friend and I enjoyed the Mascarpone flavor, the Lemon Sorbet was way too tart to fully enjoy the sweetness of the other flavor. That was our bad though and certainly of no fault of the restaurant.
When we were eating dinner, I couldn't help but notice that the majority of table seemed to consist of families convening for a meal. Sometimes, a well cooked meal is all it takes to bring people together and Henrietta's is a great example of that.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
The Thigh's the Limit!
In these trying economic times, and let's face it, even in the not so trying economic times, entertaining a large group of people with cheap cuts of meat is probably one of the most cost effective ways to save money. Of all the cheaper cuts of meat that exists out there, one of my personal favorites is the chicken thigh.
When I first started dating my partner and we would cook together, often he would bring out these rather large and intimidating packages of meat including the eight pack of bone-in, skin-on, chicken thighs and we would have to figure out what to do with them. Sadly, my first few attempts at cooking the thighs usually set off the smoke alarm in our then Cambridge condo and the end result was this overly cooked and burnt piece of chicken that was better suited as a door stopper or paperweight then actual food.
However, after much trial and error (along with many endless recipe searches online), I've come to rely on the following four recipes more and more as they seem to hit the perfect trifecta of easy, relatively foolproof, and uses ingredients that aren't esoteric or hard to come by in an average super market. I've made them many times, both for us, for company, and they all make great leftovers for lunch.
Enjoy!
Chicken Adobo (courtesy of Mark Bittman by way of Apartment Therapy)
Easy Chicken Marinade
Note: although the recipe doesn't produce a ton of marinade, don't be fooled as it's very potent with all the spices! Last I used it, I placed the chicken and marinade in a ziploc bag, turned it a few times to coat evenly, and marinated it overnight and it turned out even better than the previous times I cooked it.
Maple Mustard Chicken (by Ellie Krieger, one of my favorite food personalities)
Braised Chicken with Shallots (thank you Martha!)
Note: best served with crusty bread to sop up all the delicious sauce that this dish produces.
When I first started dating my partner and we would cook together, often he would bring out these rather large and intimidating packages of meat including the eight pack of bone-in, skin-on, chicken thighs and we would have to figure out what to do with them. Sadly, my first few attempts at cooking the thighs usually set off the smoke alarm in our then Cambridge condo and the end result was this overly cooked and burnt piece of chicken that was better suited as a door stopper or paperweight then actual food.
However, after much trial and error (along with many endless recipe searches online), I've come to rely on the following four recipes more and more as they seem to hit the perfect trifecta of easy, relatively foolproof, and uses ingredients that aren't esoteric or hard to come by in an average super market. I've made them many times, both for us, for company, and they all make great leftovers for lunch.
Enjoy!
Chicken Adobo (courtesy of Mark Bittman by way of Apartment Therapy)
Easy Chicken Marinade
Note: although the recipe doesn't produce a ton of marinade, don't be fooled as it's very potent with all the spices! Last I used it, I placed the chicken and marinade in a ziploc bag, turned it a few times to coat evenly, and marinated it overnight and it turned out even better than the previous times I cooked it.
Maple Mustard Chicken (by Ellie Krieger, one of my favorite food personalities)
Braised Chicken with Shallots (thank you Martha!)
Note: best served with crusty bread to sop up all the delicious sauce that this dish produces.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Restaurant Review: Mantra (Lunch Buffet)
As having been fortunate to live in Cambridge, MA, home to prestigious colleges, not so prestigious college shenanigans, hipsters, yuppies and other assorted liberals, one of the best parts was the diversity of food we were lucky to have. Just outside the door of our old condo was Portuguese, Chinese, Thai, Southern, TWO types of Brazilian, and most important of all, Indian food. In fact, there were so many Indian restaurants in Cambridge (Harvard Square has at least 3 I think) that my husband and I joked it was the unofficial cuisine of our town.
Because of the sheer amount of Indian restaurants in Cambridge, it stands to reason that I've also eaten at a sheer number if Indian lunch buffets. Too often though, buffets tend to be a dime a dozen and has food that's cooked improperly yielding dry meat, oily curries, and over/undercooked basmati rice. When my good friend suggested meeting at Mantra for lunch, all I knew of the restaurant was that it's in Downtown Crossing and known for its ice cool atmosphere, well heeled clientele,and striking modern decor. At night, it serves, according to their menu printed on shiny gold paper, what they refer to as Modern French Indian at very Modern French Indian prices.
During the daytime is a different story. The same sleek patrons are there except dressed in business casual, the lighting is brighter (though not at operating room brightness), and best of all, they have a wonderful lunch buffet that is a relative bargain at $11.95. The buffet itself hits all the major standard Indian buffet fare, such as Tandoori Chicken, Chicken Tikka Masala, Saag Paneer, Samosas or Pakoras for an appetizer, and some kind if Indian pudding for dessert, yet also throws in a few other unusual dishes for variety. One time it was a savory sauteed cabbage, another time was a yellow lentil curry. My last visit yielded a deliciously spicy carrot, sweet potato and pea curry dish an best of all, Beef Kofta Korma, which had mini spiced beef meatballs swimming in a creamy curry concoction.
What sets Mantra's Indian buffet apart from countless other similar restaurants is the quality of the food and how well it's prepared. For example, Chicken Tandoori at a buffet tends to be sawdust dry from sitting in the chafing dish too long, but at Mantra the meat is incredibly juicy and has just enough charred and crispy bits to make it taste af it came straight from the oven. The Saag Paneer's spinach based sauce is somehow creamy yet light tasting and chock full of the handmade cheese cubes that seem scarce in other buffet versions. Even their Pakroa, too often soggy from long periods marinating in their grease, was amazingly crispy with the chickpea taste clearly coming through.
Now that I'm a Melrose resident, I miss the days of weekend Indian buffets more than I realized. Luckily, as a downtown Boston worker bee, I know I'll be sure to hit up Mantra when I need some good and affordable Indian.
Because of the sheer amount of Indian restaurants in Cambridge, it stands to reason that I've also eaten at a sheer number if Indian lunch buffets. Too often though, buffets tend to be a dime a dozen and has food that's cooked improperly yielding dry meat, oily curries, and over/undercooked basmati rice. When my good friend suggested meeting at Mantra for lunch, all I knew of the restaurant was that it's in Downtown Crossing and known for its ice cool atmosphere, well heeled clientele,and striking modern decor. At night, it serves, according to their menu printed on shiny gold paper, what they refer to as Modern French Indian at very Modern French Indian prices.
During the daytime is a different story. The same sleek patrons are there except dressed in business casual, the lighting is brighter (though not at operating room brightness), and best of all, they have a wonderful lunch buffet that is a relative bargain at $11.95. The buffet itself hits all the major standard Indian buffet fare, such as Tandoori Chicken, Chicken Tikka Masala, Saag Paneer, Samosas or Pakoras for an appetizer, and some kind if Indian pudding for dessert, yet also throws in a few other unusual dishes for variety. One time it was a savory sauteed cabbage, another time was a yellow lentil curry. My last visit yielded a deliciously spicy carrot, sweet potato and pea curry dish an best of all, Beef Kofta Korma, which had mini spiced beef meatballs swimming in a creamy curry concoction.
What sets Mantra's Indian buffet apart from countless other similar restaurants is the quality of the food and how well it's prepared. For example, Chicken Tandoori at a buffet tends to be sawdust dry from sitting in the chafing dish too long, but at Mantra the meat is incredibly juicy and has just enough charred and crispy bits to make it taste af it came straight from the oven. The Saag Paneer's spinach based sauce is somehow creamy yet light tasting and chock full of the handmade cheese cubes that seem scarce in other buffet versions. Even their Pakroa, too often soggy from long periods marinating in their grease, was amazingly crispy with the chickpea taste clearly coming through.
Now that I'm a Melrose resident, I miss the days of weekend Indian buffets more than I realized. Luckily, as a downtown Boston worker bee, I know I'll be sure to hit up Mantra when I need some good and affordable Indian.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
9 to 5-ing it
As my morning bus was whisking me away to the subway to begin yet another humdrum work day, I was feeling tired, grumpy, and just not in a very pleasant mood (as a disclosure, I'm decidedly not a morning person and feel that those who wake up with a bounce in their step should be punched to see if they bounce back). To make the morning worse, the morning bus was late leaving me and my fellow bus friends shivering in the chilly Winter morning and once we boarded, the heat in the bus wasn't working so the temperature inside was akin to a meat locker.
Around the halfway mark of the commute, more passengers get on board limiting the conversation between me and my bus friends, not that discussions on the poor bus condition, the weather, and home renovations was that fascinating to begin with, so at that point we all brought out our newspapers, books, and, in my case, my trusty iPod, given as a gift from my parents two Christmases ago. I put my earphones in, clicked on the "Shuffle Songs" mode, and let it play.
We rounded a corner and passed by an open field when the sun was able to shine without being blocked by the tall Oak trees that grow in my town bathing all of the passengers in a piercing pure light. At that exact moment, a kicky drum beat began followed by a dobro, fiddle, guitar and piano, bringing to mind an image of a bunch of bearded men sitting on wooden crates in an old barn getting ready for a hoe down. Then, Alison Krauss's dulcet voice begins crooning the classic lines to Dolly Parton's "9 to 5" and I think to myself, "Maybe this day won't be so bad after all."
By the time the song was fading, we arrived at the subway station to board the train that carried me the rest of the way to my windowless closet office. Thanks to the power of that song, I skipped up the steps two at a time ready to face the whatever the day had in store for me.
Around the halfway mark of the commute, more passengers get on board limiting the conversation between me and my bus friends, not that discussions on the poor bus condition, the weather, and home renovations was that fascinating to begin with, so at that point we all brought out our newspapers, books, and, in my case, my trusty iPod, given as a gift from my parents two Christmases ago. I put my earphones in, clicked on the "Shuffle Songs" mode, and let it play.
We rounded a corner and passed by an open field when the sun was able to shine without being blocked by the tall Oak trees that grow in my town bathing all of the passengers in a piercing pure light. At that exact moment, a kicky drum beat began followed by a dobro, fiddle, guitar and piano, bringing to mind an image of a bunch of bearded men sitting on wooden crates in an old barn getting ready for a hoe down. Then, Alison Krauss's dulcet voice begins crooning the classic lines to Dolly Parton's "9 to 5" and I think to myself, "Maybe this day won't be so bad after all."
By the time the song was fading, we arrived at the subway station to board the train that carried me the rest of the way to my windowless closet office. Thanks to the power of that song, I skipped up the steps two at a time ready to face the whatever the day had in store for me.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Restaurant Review - Coda
During our brief respite from the winter storm we experienced, my husband and I decided to head on down to Boston to enjoy the non-blizzard weather and to be around people. As previous city folk who moved to the suburbs in order to buy a house and start a family, it's always a good reminder of why we decided to stay in Boston and all the things we can show our children whenever we have them.
As a break from tromping all around Back Bay, we stopped by the Borders off of Boylston Street and as my spouse went to use the facilities, I picked up that latest Boston Magazine to read the 50 restaurants they recommended as indicated on their cover page. Given one of our resolutions is to be more frugal with our eating out budget, Boston Magazine recommended Coda as a good wallet friendly and farm fresh eatery. Hmmm, frugal and locavore friendly, sign us up!
We arrived around 6:00 PM for an early dinner and was immediately seated at one of the high top tables near the bar. Although the restaurant itself isn't very big, it somehow manages to feel both spacious and cozy at once. Perhaps it was the candles, or the comfy chairs, or the delicious warm olive bread in the basket with hummus-like spread, or the friendly waitress, but I just knew it would be a good meal.
True enough, it ended up being as good as Boston Magazine described. As a disclaimer, I'm not much of an alcohol drinker so I can't comment on the wine menu, though my husband did imbibe a so-so Malbec. We started dinner off with a Sweet Potato and Stout Fritter that managed to be light yet rich with the flavor of sweet potato coming clearly and ending with a slightly hoppy finish. The accompaniment of paprika aioli was welcome, though unnecessary.
The other appetizer was a generous slab of Roasted Pork Belly served on top of bitter greens, fingerling potatoes, and a sauce that I can't quite remember but was slightly overshadowed by the pork belly. Although I would've preferred the skin of the belly to be a little bit more crispy, it still managed to obtain that perfect combination of fatty, savory, salty, and succulent that only pork belly can give.
For our entrees, I had a Pulled Duck Peppardelle that rivaled anything you would get a North End restaurant and epitomized everything you want in a comfort dish. The noodles soaked up the jus that pooled at the bottom of the bowl and was strong enough to scoop up the roasted root vegetables and shreds of juicy duck meat studding the dish.
My partner had the roasted chicken and although the chestnut puree and braised turnips added nice earthy flavor to the chicken, we ultimately found the chicken itself overcooked and a bit dry. The only other decent part of the bird was the crispy skin, otherwise I would order something else.
Sadly, we had no room for dessert as the portion sizes at Coda were rather large. Did it live up to the farm friendliness? Yes, not only does the menu name drop farms and locations, but even the restroom (at least the one I went to), had a hand drawn map of Massachusetts showing where they sourced all their food.
As for the value, it was relatively budget friendly as none of the entrees went over $20. After having two appetizers, a glass of wine, a club soda, and two entrees, the total bill did come out to around $75, not super bargain basement but not L'Espalier prices either.
All in all, I would go back there again, even if it was to kick back at the bar, order a plate of those delicious fritters, and watch whatever game is on the flat screen.
As a break from tromping all around Back Bay, we stopped by the Borders off of Boylston Street and as my spouse went to use the facilities, I picked up that latest Boston Magazine to read the 50 restaurants they recommended as indicated on their cover page. Given one of our resolutions is to be more frugal with our eating out budget, Boston Magazine recommended Coda as a good wallet friendly and farm fresh eatery. Hmmm, frugal and locavore friendly, sign us up!
We arrived around 6:00 PM for an early dinner and was immediately seated at one of the high top tables near the bar. Although the restaurant itself isn't very big, it somehow manages to feel both spacious and cozy at once. Perhaps it was the candles, or the comfy chairs, or the delicious warm olive bread in the basket with hummus-like spread, or the friendly waitress, but I just knew it would be a good meal.
True enough, it ended up being as good as Boston Magazine described. As a disclaimer, I'm not much of an alcohol drinker so I can't comment on the wine menu, though my husband did imbibe a so-so Malbec. We started dinner off with a Sweet Potato and Stout Fritter that managed to be light yet rich with the flavor of sweet potato coming clearly and ending with a slightly hoppy finish. The accompaniment of paprika aioli was welcome, though unnecessary.
The other appetizer was a generous slab of Roasted Pork Belly served on top of bitter greens, fingerling potatoes, and a sauce that I can't quite remember but was slightly overshadowed by the pork belly. Although I would've preferred the skin of the belly to be a little bit more crispy, it still managed to obtain that perfect combination of fatty, savory, salty, and succulent that only pork belly can give.
For our entrees, I had a Pulled Duck Peppardelle that rivaled anything you would get a North End restaurant and epitomized everything you want in a comfort dish. The noodles soaked up the jus that pooled at the bottom of the bowl and was strong enough to scoop up the roasted root vegetables and shreds of juicy duck meat studding the dish.
My partner had the roasted chicken and although the chestnut puree and braised turnips added nice earthy flavor to the chicken, we ultimately found the chicken itself overcooked and a bit dry. The only other decent part of the bird was the crispy skin, otherwise I would order something else.
Sadly, we had no room for dessert as the portion sizes at Coda were rather large. Did it live up to the farm friendliness? Yes, not only does the menu name drop farms and locations, but even the restroom (at least the one I went to), had a hand drawn map of Massachusetts showing where they sourced all their food.
As for the value, it was relatively budget friendly as none of the entrees went over $20. After having two appetizers, a glass of wine, a club soda, and two entrees, the total bill did come out to around $75, not super bargain basement but not L'Espalier prices either.
All in all, I would go back there again, even if it was to kick back at the bar, order a plate of those delicious fritters, and watch whatever game is on the flat screen.
Resolving to Blog
As millions of people wake up everyday wondering what can I set out to accomplish in this brand new year, it dawned on me that as much as I enjoy food and music, I never seem to be able to talk about it as much as I'd like to. When talking to my husband or friends about this great new dish I just devoured or this awesome new band I discovered, my eyes widen to the size of mini muffins and my mouth runs on faster than my brain creating an entertaining yet incomprehensible stream of gibberish.
So, in order to express my thoughts and to spare my friends and loved ones from my foodie/musical diatribes, as the ball dropped and 2010 was ushered in, I swore to finally start the blog that I always thought about but never got around to doing. Hence, this blog that I call Kitchen Sync, as a tribute to some of my biggest loves, food and music (and to the Live365 radio station that I attempted to create but ended disastrously, but that's another blog for another time...).
As a new blogger, I hope to last and endure the many trials and tribulations blogging creates. As such, anytime I eat out or cook something particularly tasty, I'll let you know about it. If a particular song on my iPod strikes me on my commutes to my job, you'll hear about it. And if, on the rare occasions, the two shall meet, then by George you'll be the first to read about it!
Welcome and enjoy.
So, in order to express my thoughts and to spare my friends and loved ones from my foodie/musical diatribes, as the ball dropped and 2010 was ushered in, I swore to finally start the blog that I always thought about but never got around to doing. Hence, this blog that I call Kitchen Sync, as a tribute to some of my biggest loves, food and music (and to the Live365 radio station that I attempted to create but ended disastrously, but that's another blog for another time...).
As a new blogger, I hope to last and endure the many trials and tribulations blogging creates. As such, anytime I eat out or cook something particularly tasty, I'll let you know about it. If a particular song on my iPod strikes me on my commutes to my job, you'll hear about it. And if, on the rare occasions, the two shall meet, then by George you'll be the first to read about it!
Welcome and enjoy.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)